Page 23 of A Crown Without Mercy

Don’t listen to the tales like a trembling fool.

Be still like the wolf or the wolf will come calling for you.”

Enatta took another sip and was taken aback. She had not expected to hear such a deep deliverance of what they all knew to be true, especially haven been told by a child like it was nothing more than a storybook tale.

Enatta stared at Mira, whose smile was irresistibly radiant and innocent. “Why, it—it’s beautiful. Does your father recite it to you during every Wolf’s Bane Moon?”

“Yes. I sit in his lap by the fire, and he lets me have a drink while he tells me it. It’s my favorite thing to do with him.”

“You and your sisters are quite special.”

“Father thinks so too,” Mira agreed.

“I bet you have a lot of special gifts.”

“No, just one.”

“What is it?”

Mira looked down into the water and swirled the petals around the bubbles but didn’t speak.

“You spend a lot of time here, Mira. I know you miss your mother, as do I. She was a dear friend of mine. If you would like to tell me about it, I will keep it between us.”

“Really?”

“Of course, darling. Now come, I want to hear all about it, but first things first.” Enatta winked at Mira and called out. “Ema?”

Ema opened the door and gave a slight courtesy. “Milady?”

“I would like my glass re-filled.”

“Yes, milady.” She re-filled the glass and without haste she saw herself out.

Enatta leaned back and motioned her hand towards Mira. “Go on, child, tell me.”

Mira looked at Enatta and smiled. “It’s something I can do, not say.” She closed her eyes, shook the water off her hands and cupped them together. She then looked at Enatta with a smirk, separated her hands and held out one fist over the edge of the tub.

As she raised her hand, Enatta sat with bated breath.Whatever is she doing?

“Ready?” Mira asked.

Enatta nodded.

Mira opened her fist and there sat a large, glacier-water, blue butterfly in her palm with velvety wings. Mira ran her finger gently down its back and smiled radiantly at Enatta.

Enatta placed her hand over her stomach and sat transfixed with the little creature, whose wings slowly rose and fell in the palm of Mira’s hand.My god, it is not possible? She can create life? Other than the Acherons, the Ascelins are the only other breed who wield this kind of power—is she—are they?

The sound of Mira’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Do you like her?”

“Yes, she’s beautiful. May I?” Enatta slid off the settee, reached out and ran her finger down the back of the butterfly, needing to make sure what she was seeing was real and not some sort of trickery. It fluttered its wings and floated above Enatta’s and Mira’s hands, to her shock and bewilderment.

“Her name is Nime,” Mira said as she reached up, grabbed the butterfly in her hand, and squeezed her fist shut.

Enatta gasped under her breath and watched in horror as minuscule pieces of velvety dust floated to the floor. “Why did you kill it?”

“It’s mine, and if it flies away, it won’t belong to me anymore. I didn’t kill her, not really. I can bring her back whenever I want.”

Enatta slid back into the settee and did her best to quell the spike of adrenaline, as the possibility of whom the girls may be settled in. She took a large drink and looked out the window, trying to quell the look of shock and excitement she felt radiate across her face.

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